After the Tamarac, Fla., club closed on August 25, letting go 47 employees, the City Manager has reported being approached by multiple parties interested in managing and operating the property, which the city bought for $3 million in 2011. Until a management company is hired, the city will maintain the golf courses.
The city of Tamarac, Fla., is seeking a new management company for Colony West Country Club after the property closed August 25, the Tamarac (Fla.) Talk reported.
In late August, employees at Colony West were given notice that the club would be closed. The course, which was purchased in a short sale in 2011 by the city of Tamarac for $3 million, was turned back over to the Rack family who had owned it since 1985. Unable to make future lease payments past September, they closed all operations, leaving many out of jobs, the Talk reported.
Days later, Tamarac City Manager Michael Cernech announced at the commission meeting that he was approached over the summer by the Rack family regarding renegotiating their lease. At the time, they advised him that they were not going to be able to make their payments beyond September 1, and informed Cernech that they wanted to change the terms from a lease to a management agreement where the city would pay the Racks to run the course. Cernech, while in communication with the mayor and commissioners, declined to do this, and told them that the city had met their obligations and expected that they meet theirs, the Talk reported.
The Racks advised Cernech that if they could not renegotiate, then they would be closing their operations the following week. Again, the Cernech refused to renegotiate and the golf course closed on August 25 and 47 employees were let go, the Talk reported.
“Since the golf course doors were closed, I’m sure I’ve had no fewer than 10 to 12 people approach us regarding the golf courses that they manage and their willingness to participate with us in the management of the golf complex,” said Cernech at the August City Commission Meeting.
Cernech will be distributing a letter of interest shortly, and will be accepting proposals to expedite getting the golf courses and pro shop open again. There is no shortage of operators out there, Cernech said, and this is an opportunity to find the best fit, not just in the short term, but in the long term, the Talk reported.
During the time of closing, Cernech stressed that the city of Tamarac will make sure the golf courses are maintained, the Talk reported.
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